Tips for Relocating to a New City

A new job, a way to get a fresh start, a solution to fix a long distance relationship – whatever you reason for relocating, we’re here to help. If you’re moving to a new place, we have a few suggestions to help you start this next chapter on the right foot.

Yelp is Your FriendFrom the best dentist in your new city to the top-rated restaurants in your area, we suggest checking out Yelp to see what the locals recommend. It can be tough trying to find new essentials like a doctor and a hair salon near you, while also finding a new favorite coffee shop and the best place for tacos.

Get the Lay of the LandThe ability to navigate a new city doesn’t happen overnight. However, it can be helpful to spend some time looking at the aerial view of your new city and seeing how the major roads connect, where the closest Target is, etc. Then, while you’re out and about, try to think about the map in your mind and get used to what those major roads actually look like. If you get lost a few times coming home from the grocery store, don’t be too hard on yourself – learning the best shortcuts to get home takes time.

Meeting New PeopleArguably the hardest thing about moving to new city is finding a new community of friends. You can go about this a couple of ways. The biggest tip we can give you is to go to the places you love the most because there, you’re most likely to find people who like the same thing. If you’re all about fitness, join a local gym and maybe you’ll find a new gym buddy. If you love hiking and the great outdoors, check out the nearby parks and trails in your area – there may even be a local outdoor adventure club you could join. If you’re a coffee fiend, spend some time at a great local shop (again, Yelp is your friend) and talk to the baristas and other fellow coffee lovers. Finding new friends is definitely not immediate but if you’re patient and willing to step out of your comfort zone a little bit, it’ll happen! If you’re open to meeting other people and putting forth an effort, you’ll find a community in no time.

Create a New Routine and Don’t HideCreating a routine will help make your new city feel more like home: where to go for your morning coffee, the most efficient commute to work and the best park to walk your dog. It’s vital that you don’t just stay at home and watch Netflix when you could be out meeting new people. If you think finding a new community of friends is hard, hiding away at home is not going to make it any easier!

Find Community EventsTake a look at your new city’s official website and see if there are any upcoming events that interest you. Again, you may find a new friend there that loves the same things you do. Social media can also be a great tool. Try searching hashtags related to your city, for example: #PHXlocal, #ATL, #nashvillefoodie or #thingstodoindallas. You can also check the location tags of these posts and you may just find your new favorite restaurant or local city landmark.

We hope the adjustment to your new city goes smoothly and you’re able to embrace this new chapter of your life! If you’re still looking for a new place to live, check out RentProgress.com to see all of the beautiful homes that are currently available for rent near you.